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The Barracuda nuclear-powered attack submarine programme is intended to replace the French Navy’s six modernised Rubis class nuclear attack submarines (Amethyste) as they will be decommissioned between 2012 and 2023. The programme will involve six nuclear-powered submarines, built at an average rate of two per year.

Missions assigned to this next generation submarine take account of the various crises that the Navy has had to face in recent years. Although the tasking of the six Barracuda submarines will, as was that of their predecessors, be strongly focalised towards anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel warfare, their primary roles will be to participate in a naval task force, often including a naval-air group. Alone or as part of this task force, Barracuda-class submarines will have an intelligence gathering or land attack capability.

The essential requirements associated with these tasks demand that the Barracuda submarines will be nuclear powered, as were their predecessors.

The Barracuda programme is now at the design stage. Design authority is assigned to the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement (DGA) in close cooperation with the Naval staffs. The overall prime contractor responsible for final assembly will be DCN, while Technicatome will be prime contractor for the nuclear power plant.